The general circulation of the atmosphere, caused by uneven heating of the Earth's surface, is the driving force behind our weather and climate.

Energy from the sun causes evaporation from tropical oceans and uneven heating of land and sea surfaces.

Regional drivers

While we describe the major drivers by state/territory, individual drivers do not respect state/territory boundaries. So if you are farming in southern Queensland, for example, you might want to check out both the drivers for Queensland and those for New South Wales.

Explainer: El Niño and La Niña

This short video by the Bureau of Meteorology, explains what the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is, how the cycle works (including the science behind the phases) and the potential impacts on Australia’s climate and weather.

La Niña analysis: 2010-12

The 2010-12 La Niñas were two of the most significant events in Australia’s recorded meteorological history.